Combined distiller and filter



R. E. JOHNSON COMBINED DISTILLER AND FILTER June 22, 1937.

Filed March 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 8 MW fay/n avg-Z. c75/9Izdbn 6y 3076' Jim QM R. E. JOHNSON COMBINED DISTILLER AND FILTER June 22, 1937.

Filed March 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q Am Iayvz onZZZTJE 72 6y Cltfi-i-ww W 5, M

Patented June 22, 1937 UNITED STATES re ress PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to the process of dry cleaning.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a convenient washer, filter and distiller for washing the clothing, filtering the washing liquid and, when the liquid gets too dirty, distilling the valuable constituents of the liquid and conserving them; to provide a machine or plant involving the three principal features above mentioned in such a form that it can be put on the market at a much lower price than the elaborate plants now used for similar purposes; to employ the washing machine itself as a part of this plant, and to provide an improved filter.

5 Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a Washing machine 0 and a section of the other features of the plant constituting a preferred embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan of the lower diaphragm of the filter;

Fig. 5 is a plan of the upper diaphragm;

Fig. 6 is a plan of a screen constituting a part of the filter, and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 the washing machine casing or tank ll] may be of any of the usual types and the interior is not illustratedas it is pro- 5 vided with any mechanism for performing the washing operation. The liquid is brought into i the washing machine casing through a pipe ll having a valve I2 and reaches a certain level. This liquid may be carbon tetrachloride, naphtha,

or other Washing fluid.

As the washing operation is performed, this liquid is allowed to pass out of the washer through a pipe 9 where a pump l3 of any ordinary type, preferably a rotary pump, delivers the liquid through a pipe l4 into an automatic cylindrical mixer l5. This pipe l4 enters tangentially at the side and the liquid passes in a circular manner around it and upwardly into the conical bottom I6 of the distiller and filter compartment 23.

The liquid circulating around a steam pipe I! .in the mixer acquires a swirling action. This mixer is provided with a cleanout opening and valve I8.

A steam coil I1 is supplied with steam from a suitable source through an inlet pipe l9 having a valve for controlling it and extends up into the conical bottom I6 and is provided with an outlet 20. The bottom i6 is flanged and rests on a frame 2! which may be provided with a casing 22 to protect it. In the top of it is supported 'a casing 23 which constitutes the main part of the distiller and supports the filter.

The filter comprises a lower perforated metal diaphragm 25 with a screen 23 over it. Over the screen 26 is a layer of fibrous material, as for example, wool or felt 21. This supports another screen 28. The screens 25 and 28 are flexible but the diaphragm 25 and the upper diaphragm 29 are rigid.

Secured to the walls of the distiller 23 are a series of brackets 30, each having a vertical screw 3i and the diaphragm 29 is provided with notches 32 while the upper screen 28 is provided with corresponding notches 33. These notches are the same in number and shape as the brackets 38.

In introducing the filter, diaphragm 2C and screen 28 are passed down by the brackets 30 by registering the notches 32 and 33 with the brackets and the diaphragm is turned about the center of the distiller. The screws 3| are then turned down to engage the diaphragm and force it down to keep the fibrous packing of the filter in such condition as to allow the desired amount of liquid to pass through it upwardly. During the washing process the liquid cleaned by the filter rises enough to go through the pipe H and back to the washer I0.

During the washing there is or may be continual circulation of liquid into and out of the washer in the manner just described. After the washing operation, or more usually, a plurality of washing operations, the liquid gets dirty in spite of the filtering action which has been taking place continuously. When this occurs a distilling operation has to be performed. For this purpose steam is introduced into the steam coil ll to heat up the liquid in the distiller. The valve I2 is closed and the liquid is all pumped out of the washer by the pump l3 so that it reaches a level indicated by dot and dash lines in Fig. 1. This liquid is kept at a high temperature and an air blower 34 is set into operation to blow air through a pipe 35 into the distiller 23 above the level of the liquid therein. This distiller is provided with a removable cover 36 attached by brackets 31 and preferably is provided with a pressure valve 38 or a safety valve. From the top of the cover 36 the fumes created by the heating of the liquid pass through a pipe 39 into a condenser 40 and the products of distillation are col lected in a tank 4|.

After the distilling process the cover 36 is removed. and the diaphragm 29 and screen 28 are removed through the top of the distiller. Then, if desired, the packing 21 in the distiller can be removed or replaced, or it can be loosened up, and then compressed again by the reintroduction of the diaphragm and. screen.

By this process it will be seen that the washing liquid can be used so long as may be considered desirable on the class of goods .on which it is being used and that it is being filtered all the time during the process of washing. Furthermore, the distillation of the washing liquid can be carried out with the same apparatus without dismantling it and only a small amount of labor is required to freshen up or replace the filter before the next series of operations. The machine is designed to use the ordinary type of Washing machine in the plants of tailors who use this apparatus. Thus the additional cost over the washing machine is comparatively small and the filtering and distilling part of the plant can be installed within the financial reach of an ordinary tailor Who has only a small number of suits to clean in a day. The introduction of liquid into the trap or mixer l5 at one side provides a centrifugal action and a swirling flow which serve to mix the liquid at the bottom of the filter and leave light solid particles at the center. No kind of power has to be provided which is not already necessarily in place in a tailors establishment.

In the form shown in Fig. 7 the arrangement is so similar that the same numbers are used to indicate the same elements but in this case the washing and distilling is all done in the washing machine tank 50 while the filtering is done in a separate tank 42 which is of small size.

In this case the steam heating coil 43 is at the bottom of the washing machine and the air introduced at the top of the Washing machine is introduced through two inlets 42 and 45 directing the currents of air toward each other and toward a separating plate 46 along both sides of which the air flows. The other parts, as stated, are the same as in Fig. 1 and are numbered the same.

In both forms vents are used for the fumes if carbon tetrachloride is employed. These are shown in the form of pipes 541 and 5| entering a common pipe or chamber 52. The fumes are drawn out by a fan or blower 53.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claim, but what I claim is:--

In a dry cleaning machine having a washer provided with an outlet, the combination with a pump for forcing the liquid from the washer through the outlet, a mixer, a pipe leading from the pump tangentially into the side of the mixer to give the liquid a rotary motion in the mixer, a compartment above the mixer and constituting a part of the mixer, a condenser, filter at the bottom of said compartment, into and through which the liquid rises by the force of the pump, an air blower for blowing air from said compartment above the liquid therein into said condenser from a point opposite that into which the air is blown, and means for conducting the liquid from the top of the filter directly back into the washing machine, said mixer having an outlet at the bottom through which the solid particles may be released.

RAYMOND E. JOHNSON. 

